The following sample whole school physical activity timetables provide examples of how the minimum requirements of planned physical activity can be demonstrated.
Two objectives from the Sport and Physical Activity Policy for NSW public schools include:
- student participation in planned physical activity includes time spent in physical education as part of PDHPE, sport and other structured physical activities
- students in Years K-10 participate in a minimum of 150 minutes of planned moderate with some vigorous physical activity across the
school week. This time includes planned weekly sport.
Mandatory planned physical activity
Occurs through teaching and learning in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) and School Sport. This can include warm up, modified activities, game time, and cool down not just a specific time playing the 'sport'.
Other structured physical activity (OSPA)
This can be planned for other times of the school day such as at recess, lunch or in any other learning experiences. Incorporating these into planned physical activity programs depend on the way teaching and learning is programmed and implemented. Some examples of OSPA include:
- Energisers - fun and fast-moving activities utilised to break up long periods of sitting and stimulate learning. For example, a class takes part in a 10-minute energiser activity every day making a total of 50 minutes of physical activity for the week.
- Integrating physical activity into KLA learning activities, such as in mathematics - numeracy although evidence-based research such as Thinking while Moving.
(PE + sport + energisers + TwM) allows schools to meet the requirements of 150 minutes of planned moderate to vigorous physical activity.
For further information regarding the implementation of the Sport and Physical Activity Policy view the Policy advice and support page.
Primary sample timetable allocation
Physical activity is spread across the week. The number in brackets indicates the duration of the activity in minutes. The sample timetable includes planned weekly sport, physical education as part of PDHPE and other structured physical activity (OSPA) and the total planned physical activity time per week.
| Year | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | School sport (30) | PE (30) | PE (30) OSPA (10) |
PE (30) | OSPA (10) OSPA (10) |
150 minutes |
| Year 1 | PE (50) | School sport (30) | OSPA (10) OSPA (10) |
OSPA (10) OSPA (10) |
School sport (30) |
150 minutes |
| Year 2 | PE (30) | PE (30) | School sport (30) OSPA (10) |
School sport (30) OSPA (10) |
OSPA (10) | 150 minutes |
| Year 3 | OSPA (15) | PE (60) | School sport (60) | OSPA (15) | 150 minutes | |
| Year 4 | OSPA (40) | School sport (20) | School sport (20) | PE (50) | School sport (20) | 150 minutes |
| Year 5 | School sport (60) | OSPA (60) | PE (45) | 150 minutes | ||
| Year 6 | OSPA (60) | School sport (60) | PE (60) | 150 minutes |
Physical activity is spread across the week. The number in brackets indicates the duration of the activity in minutes. The sample timetable includes planned weekly sport, physical education as part of PDHPE and other structured physical activity (OSPA) and the total planned physical activity time per week.
| Year | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | PE (25) | OSPA (20) | PE (25) | School sport (60) | OSPA (20) | 150 minutes |
| Year 1 | OSPA (15) | PE (30) | OSPA (15) | School sport (60) | PE (30) | 150 minutes |
| Year 2 | OSPA (15) | PE (30) | OSPA (15) | School sport (60) | PE (30) | 150 minutes |
| Year 3 | OSPA (25) | PE (45) | School sport (60) | OSPA (25) | 150 minutes | |
| Year 4 | PE (60) | OSPA (30) | School sport (60) | 150 minutes | ||
| Year 5 | PE (30) | PE (30) | OSPA (15) | School sport (60) | OSPA (15) | 150 minutes |
| Year 6 | OSPA (30) | PE (60) | School sport (60) | 150 minutes |
Physical activity is spread across the week. The number in brackets indicates the duration of the activity in minutes. The sample timetable includes planned weekly sport, physical education as part of PDHPE and other structured physical activity (OSPA) and the total planned physical activity time per week.
| Year | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | PE (30) | PE (30) | OSPA (30) | PE (30) | School sport (30) | 150 minutes |
| Year 1 | PE (40) | School sport (30) | PE (40) | OSPA (10) | School sport (30) | 150 minutes |
| Year 2 | OSPA (20) | School sport (30) | OSPA (20) | PE (50) | School sport (30) | 150 minutes |
| Year 3 | PE (30) | PE (30) | School sport (60) | OSPA (30) | 150 minutes | |
| Year 4 | PE (30) | OSPA (30) | PE (30) | School sport (60) | 150 minutes | |
| Year 5 | OSPA (30) | PE (60) | School sport (60) | 150 minutes | ||
| Year 6 | PE (60) | OSPA (30) | School sport (60) | 150 minutes |
Sample weekly plans to include 150 minutes of physical activity
The tables below demonstrate time allocation for physical activity for Early Stage 1 through to Stage 3. Timings are an individual choice depending on the amount of physical activity planned within a program.
| Sample Early Stage 1/Stage 1 physical activities | Time allocation per week |
|---|---|
| PDHPE (physical education/dance/gymnastics) - 2 days x 30 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Weekly school sport – modified/minor sports and games - 45 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Classroom energisers (fun and fast moving activities) - 5 days x 6 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Outdoor recreation - class kitchen garden - 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Weekly total | 150 minutes |
| Sample Stage 2 physical activities | Time allocation per week |
|---|---|
| PDHPE (physical education/dance/gymnastics) - 2 days x 30 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Weekly school sport (e.g. PSSA/Zone sport) - 60 minutes (includes warm up, modified sports, lead up games, game time, cool down) |
60 minutes |
| Classroom energisers (fun and fast moving activities) - 5 days x 6 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Weekly total | 150 minutes |
| Sample Stage 3 physical activities | Time allocation per week |
|---|---|
| PDHPE (Physical Education) - 30 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Weekly school sport (e.g. PSSA/Zone sport) - 60 minutes (includes warm up, modified sports, lead up games, game time, cool down) |
60 minutes |
| Classroom energisers (fun and fast moving games) - 5 days x 6 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Thinking while Moving (physical activity integrated into maths) - 30 minutes | 30 minutes |
| Weekly total | 150 minutes |
Secondary sample timetable allocation
Table below shows the minimum requirements of physical activity through practical PE and Sport. The sample timetable is based on a weekly cycle with 60 minute periods.
Physical activity is spread across the week. The number in brackets is the duration of the activity in minutes. The table also includes weekly planned sport, and the total planned physical activity time per week.
| Year/class | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1/7.2 | Practical PDHPE (50) | Whole school sport (100) | 150 minutes | |||
| 7.3/7.4 | Practical PDHPE (50) | Whole school sport (100) | 150 minutes | |||
| 8.1/8.2 | Practical PDHPE (50) | Whole school sport (100) | 150 minutes | |||
| 8.3/8.4 | Practical PDHPE (50) | Whole school sport (100) | 150 minutes | |||
| 9.1/9.2 | Practical PDHPE (50) | Whole school sport (100) | 150 minutes | |||
| 9.3/9.4 | Practical PDHPE (50) | Whole school sport (100) | 150 minutes | |||
| 10.1/10.2 | Whole school sport (100) | Practical PDHPE (50) | 150 minutes | |||
| 10.3/10.4 | Whole school sport (100) | Practical PDHPE (60) | 150 minutes |
Note – total allocated time to sport and PE for each year/class is 180 minutes. This sample identifies there has been time allocated for administration tasks and/or travel time.
Table below show the minimum requirements of physical activity through practical PE and Sport. The sample timetable is based on a one week cycle with 60 minute periods.
Physical activity is spread across the week. The number in brackets is the duration of the activity in minutes. The table also includes weekly planned sport, and the total planned physical activity time per week.
| Year/class | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1/7.2 | Practical PDHPE (50) | School sport (100) |
150 minutes | |||
| 7.3/7.4 | Practical PDHPE (50) | School sport (100) |
150 minutes | |||
| 8.1/8.2 | Practical PDHPE (50) | School sport (100) |
100 minutes | |||
| 8.3/8.4 | Practical PDHPE (50) | School sport (100) |
150 minutes | |||
| 8.5/8.6 | Practical PDHPE (50) | School sport (100) |
150 minutes | |||
| 9.1/9.2 | School sport (100) |
Practical PDHPE (50) | 150 minutes | |||
| 9.3/9.4 | School sport (100) |
Practical PDHPE (50) | 150 minutes | |||
| 10.1/10.2 | School sport (100) |
Practical PDHPE (50) | 150 minutes | |||
| 10.3/10.4 | School sport (100) |
Practical PDHPE (50) | 150 minutes |
Note – total allocated time to sport and PE for each year/class is 180 minutes. This sample identifies there has been time allocated for administration tasks and/or travel time.
Another way secondary schools could incorporate additional physical activity into their lessons is to include it as part of a morning session, for example as part of roll call, or at a set time of day, for examples after the second break. Incorporating high-intensity training (HITT) sessions (which can be only 10 minutes long) have been shown to have a marked effect on fitness as well as on academic performance.